Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 32,257, Benjamin Fort, New Jersey

NUMBER
New Jersey
Fort Benjamin
S. 32,257

due to Pen age to Nov 1838.
31.423 Indiana
Benjamin Fort Wayne Co, in the State of Indiana who was a private in the Comp y commanded by Captain Polhamis of the reg t commanded by Col Wirt in the M. I. Mil ia for six months
Inscribed on the Roll of Indiana at the rate of 20 Dollars — 20 Dollars — Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 4 th day of June 1838 — and sent to J. B. Ray Esq Centreville Ind a
Arrears to the 4th of March 1838 $140. —
Semi-ann. allowance ending 4 Sep 38 10.
$150. —
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Apts June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by W. Allison Clerk, Book 82 Vol. 7 Page 122

Declaration.
In order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress of the 7 th June 1832. State of Indiana, } ss. Wayne County. }
On this 19 th day of March A. D. 1838, personally appeared in open court, of the Wayne Circuit Court of the Term of March in the year of our Lord One Thousand eight hundred and thirty eight, a court of record in said State, Benjamin Fort, a resident of the town of Centerville, in the County of Wayne aforesaid and State of Indiana, aged eighty five the 15 th day of November A. D. 1838 next, who being first duly sworn according to law deposeth & saith, and on his oath doth make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of an act of Congress passed June 7 th 1832. That he voluntarily entered and joined, as he thinks, the State Troops [though owing to age and the loss of memory consequent thereon, he cannot say whether the State or continental  Regular Troops, in the continental line of service] in the army of the United States, in New Jersey, and as he thinks, in the year 1775, with and under the following named Officers, to wit: The Commanding Officer under whom he served during his first enrollment, or to which he was attached, were, General Gates, Col. William Wines, Major Dehart, Capt. John Polhamus, first Lieutenant John Vanangler, Second Lieutenant Samuel Asford, and of the line but the regiment forgotten owing to age and the decay of memory. That he believed at the time he entered the service as a Volunteer as aforesaid, in Somerset County State of New Jersey, in the country, but owing to loss of memory and age, cannot state the day of the Month or month, and that he served faithfully in this service eleven months, during which time his services were directed against the British, and have nothing to shew but frail memory when he ended the service which must have been eleven months after he entered as aforesaid in said year.
In less than a year from the end of service aforesaid, he volunteered in the Militia of the State of New Jersey, he attached himself to the State Troops the month and day thereof, owing to the cause aforesaid not remembered, and having no dates, cannot state,

but, the Commanding Officers in this tour, he remembers to be, General Sherman, Colonel Hume, Captain William Jones, and Lieutenant Burceau; and his his residence at the time of this volunteering was was in Somerset County in the State of New Jersey  where he with the army had an  engagement  engagement with the British at Germantown of some hours, in which he was, and the army was forced to retreat; and after retreating, were discharged, and returned to New- Jersey, but owing to the loss of memory and want of data, cannot state the precise time. Some short time after this, but precise time forgotten, he was as a Militia man called out, in said County & State of New Jersey, by draft, against the British, with whom he with the Army had an engagement in the County of Monmouth, he thinks, in the State of New Jersey, in which battle he was, and there defeated the British; and after this he was called out again frequently in cases of emergency, until the Revolutionary war ended, and served his country. And that in said service, he served ten months & more in all, in the said Militia Service, under said last named Officers, in the Revolutionary war, in and out of New- Jersey; and that during all the said ten months except a few days sickness, he was in active service. And that in all of said service, he was a Volunteer & Substituted no one. This deponent states, that he had no documentary evidence, and that he knows of no person, by whom he can prove his said services; and who can testify to the same. In consequence of old age and con- sequent loss of memory, this deponent cannot swear positively as to the days of month and months, when he entered and ended his said services, and the country through which he marched &c. but according to his best recollection and belief, he served not less than the two periods mentioned above, as a private soldier, in the war of the Revolution and for which he claims as a private in the Militia Service of the Revolution, a Pension.

And he hereby relinquishes every Claim whatever, to a Pension or annuity, except the present, and declares his name is not on the Pension Roll of any of the Agencies of any State or Territory in the United States, yet.
Sworn to and Subscribed this day & year aforesaid in open court. Benjamin H. Fort Mark Lot Bloomfield Clerk
We Elijah Whittum a Clergyman, and residing in the Town of Centreville, Wayne County, Indiana, and James B. Ray residing in the same town, county & State, hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Benjamin Fort who has subscri- -bed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be eighty five years of age next Novr., that he is reputed and believed in the neighbourhood where he resides, to have been a Soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion. Sworn to and Subscribed, this the day and year aforesaid. James B. Ray Elijah Whittum
Lot B Bloomfield Clerk And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogatories by the War Department Prescribed, that the above named applicant was a revo- -lutionary Soldier and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them, that Benjamin Fort Elijah Whittum who has signed the preceding cer- -tificate, is a Clergyman residing in the said town & county, of Wayne, Indiana, and that James B. Ray who has signed the same is a resident in the said town, county & State, and are credible persons, and that their statement is en- -titled to credit.
Lot B Bloomfield Samuel Brown Clerk of the said Wayne Circuit Court, Indiana, do hereby certify, that aforegoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of Benjamin Fort, for a pension. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of Office this 17 th day of March A. D. 1838.
Lot B Bloomfield Clerk

II Here follows the interrogatories & answers.
Q. 1. Where and in what year were you born?
A. 1. I was born in Somerset County State of New Jersey, near Princeton.
Q. 2. Have you any record of your age? and if so when is it?
A. 2. There is a Record of my age of my Father, but it is in New Jersey.
Q. 3. Where were you living when called into Service, when have you lived since the Revolutionary war, and when do you now live?
A. 3. When I entered the Service, I lived in the country in Somerset County State of New Jersey, and since the Revolutionary war I moved from New Jersey into Pennsylvania, thence to Virginia, thence to Indiana, where I have lived since the last twelve years in June next when I now live.
Q. 4. How were you called into Service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute?
A. 4. I generally volunteered into the Service.
Q. 5. State the names of some of the Regular Officers, who were with the troops when you served; such Continental and Militia Regiments as you recollect, and the general circumstances of your Service.
Q. 6. Did you receive a discharge from the Service, and if so, by whom was it given, and what has become of it?
A. 6. I received a discharge, but lost it in New Jersey.
Q. 7. State the names of persons to whom you are indebted in your present neighbourhood, and who can testify to your character for veracity and their belief of your service as a Soldier of the Revolution.
A. 7. I refer with pleasure for that purpose Elijah Whetton a Clergyman, and Gov. Daniel B. Ray of Centerville, Va. C. 1840
II Answer to the said Question 5. as above alleged.
I was under Genl. Gates, Col. Wines, Major Dehart, I think regular officers; and Genl. Surman, Col. Frome, Capt. Jones, Lieut. Breaux; He was in the 1st Jersey Regiment, and he thinks the 2nd was under one Mansfield; don't recollect from failure of memory the number of any Militia Regiment except as aforesaid. The prominent parts of his service, are stated in his said declaration, as to the battles he was in, &c.
Pension Papers B6 745 H. 805

admitted P. 6 mth. 1/20

The State of Indiana, § Wayne County. §
Amended Declaration of Benjamin Fort, of said County of Wayne, Indiana, in order to obtain the benefit of "an act of Congress of the 7 th June 1832."
On this 11 th day of April A. D. 1838, personally appeared before the undersigned, One of the Associate Judges of the Wayne Circuit Court, State of Indiana, at the residence of Benjamin Fort, at Centreville Wayne County, Indiana, the said Benjamin Fort, who on account of extreme old age and bodily infirmity, is unable now to attend in open Court, a resi- -dent of said County of Wayne State of Indiana, aged eighty five years the 15 th day of Novem- -ber 1838 next, who being first duly sworn accor- -ding to law, deposeth and saith, and on his Oath doth make the following amended dec- -laration, in order to obtain the benefit of "an act of Congress, passed June 7 th 1832" - that he fully acknowledges his error, owing to extreme age and loss of Memory and deafness which impairs his hearing, in regard to the kind or class of services he rendered in New-Jersey &c. during the revolu- -tion, as is set forth in his original declaration, but too generally; and now with refreshed memory, corrects the same, by stating - That the ten or eleven months services rendered in 1775 according to his declaration aforesaid, must have been each rendered and performed in ten Monthly tours, when called upon by Claps to perform their turn, and under the Officers mentioned in said declaration, and in 1775 and 1776 he thinks; and that the services alleged

in his said original declaration to have been performed in the year 1777, under the Officers therein specified, was Periodical or Monthly tours, and alternate reliefs by Claps, to the amount of four or five tours; And that the Services he alleged in his said declaration to have been performed in the year 1778 of ten months, was performed under the Officers in said declaration mentioned, by Monthly relief Company tours, to the number of ten at least, and must have been performed in the years 1778-9 - all according to the kind of Services requiring of private soldiers in the State of New Jersey, during the Revolu- tionary War; And that he cannot state owing to the great decay of Memory, the days & months of the commencements or endings of said Services; but, can say, by reason of old age and the Consequent loss of Memory, he cannot swear positively, to the precise length of his Service and its nature in detail other than mentioned; but, according to the best of his recollection, he served not less, than the periods below mentioned, and in the following grades: - For two years I served as a Private in the War of the American Revolution, by Monthly tours, by classes of relief Compa- nies, according to the requisitions of the Govern- ment in New Jersey, and was not for all said time in any Civil employment whatever; And that he served with an embodied Corps of Militia Men in the field Service of the U. States, legally called into Service; for which he claimed a Pension. The number of Monthly tours that he served, were not less in all than 24, in the periods mentioned in his said original declaration, and as here explained not being able to state

owing to old age & the decay of memory, the precise time of the beginnings & endings of each per tour - and the precise service he performed in each tour, and the names of the Officers; except as in said declaration men- -tioned; And further Saith not. Sworn to and Subscri- -bed before the under- -signed An Associate Judge of the Wayne Circuit Court, Indiana, this 11 th day of April A.D. 1838.
Benjamin his Fort mark
Jesse Williams (Seal) Associate Judge W. C. C.
The State of Indiana, } Wayne County. } ss.
I John Finley Clerk of the Wayne Circuit Court & County, do hereby certify, That Jesse Williams Esqr., before whom the above Affidavit and Annun- -ciated declaration of Benjamin Fort of S d County, a Revolutionary Soldier & applicant for a Pension, is and was, at the time of making the same under oath as aforesaid, one of the Asso- -ciate Judges of the Wayne Circuit Court, in the State of Indiana, duly elected, commissioned, and sworn into Office, and that full faith and credit are due and ought to be given to all his Official acts as such, and that his said signature is genuine.
In testimony whereof, I John Finley Clerk of the Wayne Circuit Court, do hereby set my hand & the Seal of said Court at Centreville, this 11 th day of April A. D. 1838.
John Finley Clk. W. C. C.

Rev.&1812 Wars Section.
MMHF OW
May 21, 1929.
Mrs. Lawerence Shae, Knightstown, Indiana.
Madam:
I advise you that from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, S. 32257, it appears that Benjamin Port was born November 15, 1753 near Princeton in Somerset County, New Jersey.
While a resident of Somerset County, New Jersey, he volunteered in 1775 and served at various times, on short tours until in 1779, about two years in all, as a private under Captains John Polhemus and William Jones and Colonels William Winds and Vroom in the New Jersey Troops, and was in the battles of Germantown and Monmouth.
He was also called out at other times when necessary, to the close of the war, no details or officers names given.
After the Revolution he moved to Pennsylvania, thence to Virginia, thence to Indiana.
He was allowed pension on his application executed March 17, 1838 while a resident of Centreville, Wayne

County, Indiana.
There are no data on file relative to his family.
This is the history of the only Benjamin Fort found on the Revolutionary War records of this bureau.
Respectfully,
E. W. MORGAN, Acting Commissioner.

Rev & 1812 Wars Section.
AW
Jan. 11, 1924.
Mrs. Earl Roberts, North Jefferson St. Knightstown, Ind.
Madam:
I have to advise you, that from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, S. 32357, it appears that Benjamin Fort was born November 15, 1753, in Somerset Co., N. J and resided there during the Revolution.
He was allowed pension on his application executed March 17, 1838, while living at Centreville, Wayne County, Indiana, on account of six months services as a private in the New Jersey Troops.
There is no data on file as to family.
Respectfully,
Commissioner.
X

Knightstown Ind.
Dear Sir:
Will you kindly send me the copy of the pension of Benjamin Forb (b) in France, 1752 or 59. Came to U.S. 1777. fought in Rev War. Settled in N.J. (d) Dec-1838. Mary Forb (w) of Benjamin (d) Aug 6-1819. Please reply at once . Yours very truly Mrs Lawrence Shaw.
5-17-29.

Rev. War Records.
In The Department of the Interior Bureau of Pensions
Dear Sir,
If Benjamin Fort who- served in the Revolutionary War was a pensioner would you kindly send me a copy of his services,? I will be very grateful to you for an answer.
Very Truly Mrs Earl Roberts Knightstown Indiana North Jefferson St.
Nov- 22 nd 1923.

32257 Pay INVALID.
File No. 82,257
Benjamin Hart Rev Rev
Act June 7 th 32"
Index:—Vol. 2, Page 142
[Arrangement of 1870.]
✓
1924 June 11. First to Mrs E. Roberts (W) 1929 May 21. Rich. to Mrs. Lewis. Shea. MMT.

Centreville, Ma. Co, Ind. 20th 1138.
The Hon.
Sec y of War, (Sir),
I received from the Sec y of War, a letter dated 29 th March A.D. 1838, in regard to the pension of Mr. Benjamin Fort, stating that his application was amongst the suspended cases, for a pension. Mr. Fort's indisposition has greatly increased, so much so as to make impossible to further amend his declaration.
I think, that a reference to the two declarations on file, in the Pension Office, of Mr. Fort, will prove that he has substantially complied with the requisitions of the Law of Congress, in the matter of his application for a pension for a longer period than 6 months. He served, undoubtedly, more than two years in all, and so he alleges, and he gives the names of the officers, and kind of service by naming the battles he was in &c.
The Sec y of War, says, that Mr. Fort can have a pension also for six months service. I do hope, that he may be considered as having served longer than six months. But, if his declaration is so construed, he authorizes me to say to the Sec y of War, to fix his pension as for whatever period he can, to give the greatest sum possible, and notify him, through,
Yr. Mutt Off. Servt, &c.
B. P. Ray

Benjamin Fort Indiana.
Suspended
See let. 29 March 1838 to Maj. S. Cooper — and 2 d May 1838 to J. B. Ray.

Apr 21.
Mrs. Ab. Leane Benj. Hob.
(Pension Papers)
FREE
The Secretary of War, City of Washington, Dist. of Col. a.

Oct 21.
Indra auto leave Benj. Hobt.
(Pension Papers)
FREE
The Secretary of War, City of Washington, Dist. of Col. a.

Centreville, Wayne County, Ind. April 11 th 1838.
Wou: Sec y of War, Dr Sir,
I have drawn an amended Declaration, in the matter of Benjamin Fort, on his application for a Pension, in accordance with the instructions of the Acting Sec y of War, requesting a correction of Mr. Fort's error, in regard to the kind of Service he rendered in the Revolutionary War; in New Jersey, and herewith enclose the same, for other and further action. I hope, indeed, that the original and amended Declarations together, will shew the old Man entitled to a Pension, as he is very deaf and difficult to get into Court, owing to his extreme old age and debility. I have followed the printed instructions of the Sec y of War, requiring in a case of this kind, the applicant, to state that he served " not less " than 24 months, by monthly tours, &c. The memory of the applicant is in mind, and he is very deaf; but, there is no doubt entertained by any one, that he was a Soldier of the Revolution, and he must have served 3 or 4 years; but he cannot detail all the times and circumstances of his Service in detail. Give a Pension, however, for 24 monthly tours, in the Militia Service, and with that he must make himself content.
Yrs. Respectfully, &c.
James B. Ray